Summary11

From EQUIS Lab Wiki

an investigation of peripheral and visual displays to help people who are deaf maintain awareness of sounds in the environment

visual design preferences - ease of interpretation, glance-ability and appropriate distractions

functional requirements - ability to identify what sound occured, view a history of displayed sounds, customize the info that is shown and determine the accuracy of displayed info

deaf people have some tools to keep them aware of sounds such as knocks on door, fire alarm etc. but no one device that monitors everything

people who are deaf use techniques to maintain awareness such as vision or sensing vibrations in the ground, but not all sound creates vibration or leaves a visual trace.

answered following design questions In what places do people who are deaf want to know about the sounds around them (e.g., at home, work, or while mobile)? What display size is preferred (e.g., a PDA, PC monitor, or large wall screen)? What information about sounds is important to people who are deaf (e.g., sound recognition, location, or characteristics like volume and pitch)? What visual design characteristics do users prefer? What functional issues are important to people who are deaf in a visualization of non-speech sounds?

created two displays and conducted design interviews looking for preferences for - place of use (home, work, mobile), - size (PDA, PC monitor, large wall screen), - type of sound information conveyed (sound recognition,location, and characteristics), - visual design characteristics, and - functional desires or issues.

interviewed 8 participants who considered themselves deaf. 2 were profoundly deaf, 2 mostly deaf and 4 who were hard of hearing with hearing aids and mostly deaf without

rest of article deals with building the display etc.